With that, the 2024 season has officially come to an end.
The UNC football program came out flat and was lackluster for most of the Fenway Bowl, suffering a double-digit loss to UConn. With the loss, North Carolina finishes the 2024 season with a disappointing 6-7 record.
Not much good happened throughout the first half for the Tar Heels. Starting quarterback Jacolby Criswell was injured in the first quarter, forcing freshman quarterback Michael Merdinger, who is currently in the transfer portal, into action.
Needless to say, with or without Criswell, North Carolina had plenty of trouble moving the football.
If it wasn't for a 95-yard kickoff return from Chris Culliver, the Tar Heels would've went scoreless through the first half of play, as the first 30 minutes were full of dysfunction and disappointment.
While UConn's offense was held to just three second half points, the Tar Heels made a little push late in the game. With Caleb Hood operating as the quarterback in the wildcat formation, the Tar Heels put together a touchdown drive, one that ended with Hood completing a 17-yard pass to tight end John Copenhaver.
Unfortunately, that's as close as North Carolina would get.
North Carolina finished with 206 total yards of offense, a number that is skewed by the fourth quarter of play. Of those 206 yards, 139 of them came in the final quarter, which shows just how much the Tar Heels struggled throughout.
It's safe to say that UNC football fans are happy this season has come to a close. When the Tar Heels take the field again in 2025, it will be under a new direction, as the Bill Belichick era is officially set to begin.
Hopefully better days are ahead for the UNC football program.